”A battle of words” A discourse analytical study of the parliamentary debate about the position of Christianity in Lgr62

This essay examines the 1962 Swedish parliamentary debate preluding the proposition to introduce a uniform compulsory education for all Swedish children. The proposition aimed at ending the previously heterogeneous educational system and replace it with a more equal and democratic system. A widespread debate ensued, regarding the status of Christian religious education (kristendomskunskap) and its new emphasis on scientific objectivity. This essay will examine the relative position of Christianity within the new uniform school system, as it was articulated by the members of the Swedish parliament. This analysis will be achieved through the use of a discourse analytical study of the parliamentary records, the recorded motions and bills. From these records a substantial disparity in the parliamential members articulation of the concept of Christianity can be ascertained, even within the discourse of an educational regime. To the idea of Christian religious education, the members articulated a relationship with concepts like scientific objectivity, democracy and childrens upbringing. By setting the tone and defining the discourse surrounding Christian religious education, the parliamential members vied for the right to determine the future of the subject. A discursive debate thus ensued to define and validate the various views of objectivity, democracy and childrens education. These three concepts which on the face of it might seem obvious and easily defined, will through a discourse analytical approach, prove to be richly nuanced and difficult to pin down. This essay interestingly shows that the contradicting definition of words took center stage as a way to determine the political struggle over the role of Christianity in the Swedish school system